China's Ethnic Unity Law draws criticism from Canada and EU

China has enacted the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law, which creates a legal basis for the government to prosecute individuals or organisations abroad that are deemed to threaten "ethnic unity." Uyghur rights activist Mehmet Tohti, executive director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, said Canada’s response was "weak" and "vague," calling for a stronger statement and concrete action.

In Europe, members of the European Parliament and senior EU officials have condemned the law as a tool for forced assimilation that threatens the cultural, religious and linguistic rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Southern Mongolians and other minorities. Several MEPs urged the EU to consider targeted sanctions and called on China to repeal the legislation, citing concerns over the erosion of Tibetan identity and broader human‑rights violations.